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CHRIS T CHURCH COIN OPERATED GIRL Buskers Festival Christchurch’s largest circulating community newspaper By EMILY SPINK Scramble for flats S They will each pay $135 for tudents in Christchurch are having to lower their expectations in a bid to secure flats in a competitive market. With flats in Ilam and Riccar- ton at a premium and increasing rental costs, students are having to compete against families and tradies for leases. Often they are the ones that miss out. Tom Wilson, 21, says he may have to delay the start of his studies until the second semester if he can’t find a flat in time for the start of the university year. Wilson and his two friends from Lincoln University began their flat hunt in November after exams. The students had to continue their search once they moved home to Dunedin, Napier and the West Coast for summer. The boys then chipped in for fuel, so Wilson could travel up from Dunedin for open homes. ‘‘I didn’t honestly think it would be this hard to find one. It’s proving quite stressful.’’ Desperation is mounting for Wilson, who has been to ‘‘packed’’ open homes – including one in Riccarton with a leaky roof and high rent. ‘‘It was too much for what it was, but at the same time it was still a place to live.’’ University of Canterbury sec- ond year students Matt Little, Jack Roberts and twins Max and Logan Street know that they are among the lucky ones who have found a flat this year, but it has come at a price. ‘‘We got in quickly compared to others,’’ Little said. their small rooms in the sixbedroom unit. ‘‘It’s a hole, but it could be a lot worse.’’ They started looking in July, and after several weeks had been to more than 12 open homes. ‘‘There were a few walk-ins and walk-outs straight away,’’ Max Street said. University of Canterbury Students’ Association president Sarah Platt said the flat hunt was ‘‘still hard’’ for students, with between 800 and 1200 construction workers on campus who also needed accommodation around the university. ‘‘A lot of landlords would rather have families or older people in flats than students.’’ Platt said students came to the organisation needing financial and academic assistance as a result of increasing rent prices and cramped living arrangements. ‘‘They have to prioritise work over study and that has repercussions on their grades.’’ Student Joshua Thomas said he had to lower his expectations to secure a flat this year. He wanted a house with a gar- den, but had to settle for a small unit in Upper Riccarton, which is ‘‘quite confined’’. ‘‘This one was a bit of a laugh, but then we just settled for it.’’ Their first open home was ‘‘packed out’’ with students and families, and the second attracted so many students, Thomas and his friends could not even get in. ‘‘You’ve got to have connections to get one.’’ CONTINUED Page 3 Lucky ones: University of Canterbury students Max Street, left, Matt Little, Jack Roberts and Logan Street had to lower their expectations to find a flat in Christchurch. P3 Thursday, January 15, 2015